# 16 Experiences in Japan Every Traveler Should Have > Ancient traditions, breathtaking nature and refined cuisine. We've gathered 16 experiences every traveler should have in Japan at least once in a lifetime. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/16-vpechatlenyi-ot-yaponyy-kotore-dolzhen-poluchyt-kazhdi-puteshestvennyk/ - Language: en - Published: 2025-03-04 - Categories: Culture, Japan, Mountain, Skiing, Food & Drinks, Relaxation --- There are countless reasons to fall in love with Japan. Whether you're hunting down the best dishes in Tokyo and Osaka or soaking up the country's stunning scenery, there's no way to take it all in on a single visit. But you'll have a wonderful time trying. We've put together a thorough cheat sheet of the very best experiences Japan has to offer, to help you plan your next trip. Be sure to browse the gallery at the top of this story, too, filled with beautiful Japanese destinations for a little extra travel inspiration. ## THE GREAT OUTDOORS While Japan may be best known for its dazzlingly modern cities, you'll want to spend at least a few days exploring its breathtaking natural sights. This is a country that truly has it all, from rugged mountain peaks to white sand beaches. Here are a few Japanese experiences that let you both unwind and chase a little adventure. ## Winter Sports Nagano, which hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics, has long been a snowy haven for travelers from around the globe. But in recent years Niseko, on the northern island of Hokkaido, has become another leading destination for powder hounds, thanks to its fresh, top-quality snow and remarkable dining scene. Meanwhile, on the island of Honshu, Zao Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture offers skiing, onsen (more on that later) and "snow monsters." For something completely different, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, nicknamed the "Roof of Japan," gives travelers the chance to drive along a highway framed by massive walls of snow that rise up to 17 meters above the road. ## Beach Getaways ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-1-2024.jpg) As an island nation, Japan's beach offerings are every bit as impressive as its skyscrapers and bullet trains. In the north of Japan's main island, Jodogahama Beach (Pure Land in English) is a serene, tucked-away beach with crystal-clear water and snow-white cliffs. If you prefer softer (and darker) sand, Ibusuki Beach is your ideal destination. This subtropical beach is famous for a one-of-a-kind ritual: sand baths, or suna-mushi. For island lovers, you can visit a string of 260 tiny, pine-covered islands at Matsushima. ## Bathing in Onsen ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-2-2024.jpg) For anyone who hasn't yet been to a Japanese onsen, take note: nudity isn't just the norm. It's the rule. The word "onsen" refers to Japan's natural hot springs, but it can also describe facilities such as spas and hotels that channel the waters into their own bathing areas. While there are thousands of onsen across the country, Beppu is Japan's hot spring capital, and for good reason. It's home to more than 2,500 hot springs and boasts the second-largest volume of thermal water in the world. For travelers with tattoos, however, undressing at a Japanese onsen can be tricky, since many ban tattoos associated with the yakuza. Fortunately, there's a website called Tattoo-Friendly that lists establishments allowing tattoos. Users can narrow their search by choosing the type of facility they'd like to visit: a gym, a pool, a ryokan (inn) or a sento (public bathhouse). Each listed venue includes a short description of the place and its amenities, along with its specific tattoo policy. ## Hanami ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-3-2024.jpg) For just a few weeks each spring, Japan celebrates an annual ritual known as hanami: pausing to see and appreciate the beautiful spring blossoms. It's so beloved that the Japan Meteorological Association's yearly sakura (cherry blossom) forecast airs live on television, and the Japan National Tourism Organization keeps a regularly updated cherry blossom forecast schedule on its website. Here are some of the best spots across Japan to join in the spring viewing party. ## Hiking ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-4-2024.jpg) As a mountainous nation, Japan makes trekking an incredibly popular pastime. For a spiritual journey, try the Kumano Kodo, a multi-day pilgrimage across Wakayama Prefecture, fueled by excellent food, charming rural villages and rich culture along the way. More than a thousand years ago, imperial leaders and aristocrats made their way to the main Kumano Kodo shrines via a network of trails across the island. At the end of the hike, we recommend spending a night at a temple in the mountain town of Koyasan, the center of Shingon Buddhism. Here, ancient cedar forests share space with historic pagodas, cobbled roads, restaurants, schools, cafes and souvenir shops. The enchanting Yakushima forest (the setting for Hayao Miyazaki's epic film "Princess Mononoke") on the island of Kyushu and the Sagano bamboo grove on the outskirts of Kyoto are other family-friendly spots where you can enjoy a peaceful walk in Japan. ## TRADITIONS Japan excels at striking the right balance between tradition and modernity, leading the way in technological advances while embracing its past, whether in architecture, art, fashion, food or sport. Here are a few experiences that will give you a feel for Japan's traditional side. ## Staying at a Ryokan ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-5-2024.jpg) Looking for the classic Japanese hotel experience, with tatami on the floor, an onsen and sliding doors? A stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese guesthouse, is exactly what you need. Catering to every budget, they can be found all over Japan, most often in the countryside beyond the urban centers. Guests are encouraged to wear yukata (casual kimono) and socks, and traditional Japanese meals are prepared on-site. For truly luxurious lodgings, check out our article on the six most beautiful ryokan in Japan. ## Tea Ceremonies The Japanese tea ceremony, or sado, is a traditional way of preparing and serving matcha (high-grade green tea). To make it, shade-grown green tea leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder. This allows the tea to retain its nutrients. During the ceremony, which focuses on the rituals and the states of mind reached along the way, the powder is whisked with hot water in a small bowl until a light froth forms. The best place to get acquainted with the Japanese matcha tea ceremony, or simply to savor a few cups of the precious drink, is Kyoto. There are plenty of tea-making classes and demonstrations available in English and other languages. ## Kimono ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-6-2024.jpg) Japan's most beautiful traditional garment, the kimono, is undoubtedly a pricey souvenir to bring home. One reason for the high cost is the painstaking, detailed process of making them. On the small island of Amami Oshima, for example, it can take up to two years to make a single kimono. Another revered kimono maker is Okaju in Kyoto, founded in 1855 and now led by fourth-generation head Shigeo Okajima. If you simply want to wear one during your visit to Japan, there are a number of rental companies all over Kyoto. Prefer to admire these beautiful outfits from a distance? The Gion district of Kyoto is where travelers can catch a glimpse of graceful geisha, traditional Japanese performers, walking down the street in their kimono. But before you start snapping photos, read this guide on the dos and don'ts of geisha spotting. ## Sumo ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-7-2024.jpg) Sumo is as ancient as it is quintessentially Japanese. Historians agree the sport is at least 2,000 years old, and in its current form it has remained largely unchanged since the Edo period. But scoring a seat at one of the six grand sumo tournaments each year can be almost as tough as stepping into the ring and wrestling yourself, though with a little advance planning you can pull it off. Tickets are available through the official sumo website of Japan. There are other ways to get close to a sumo wrestler. When they're not competing, sumo wrestlers train year-round at special sumo stables, or beya. These stables, mostly located in Tokyo's Ryogoku district, are where the city's wrestlers live, eat, sleep and train almost every day. In recent years it has become more common for foreigners to attend the morning training sessions, which start around 5 a.m. and last three to four hours. Read more about Japan's sumo stables here. ## CUISINE Japan is a culinary wonderland, thanks to its unique heritage, a national obsession with food and an almost religious devotion to freshness and flawless craftsmanship. Here are a few of the country's must-try culinary experiences. Been there, tasted it all? For a deeper dive into the country's culinary marvels, check out our list of the 25 best Japanese dishes. ## Sushi Chances are, sushi is the first thing that comes to mind when you think "Japanese food." More than just a slice of fish on vinegared rice, that's only one type, called nigiri, mastering the art of sushi can easily take a lifetime. Luckily, there's Sushi University, where travelers can learn to tell nigiri from nori-maki. Almost poetic in their simplicity, good sushi comes down to two things: the freshness of the ingredients and the chef's knife skills. Whether you like your raw fish draped over vinegared rice balls, wrapped in toasted nori seaweed or pressed into rich rectangular bars, delicious sushi can be found at every price point. If you're ready to splurge, Sushisho Masa (106-0031 Tokyo, Minato, Nishiazabu, 4 Chome-1-15) in Tokyo's Roppongi district is nothing short of perfection. And then, of course, there's Sukiyabashi Jiro, the legendary restaurant in Tokyo's fashionable Ginza district, widely considered the best sushi restaurant in the world. Hidden in a basement attached to the Ginza subway station, Sukiyabashi Jiro shot to global fame after the 2012 documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi." ## Kobe Beef ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-8-2024.jpg) Famous for its all-over marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture, Kobe beef is one of Japan's most prized meat dishes. A type of Wagyu beef named after the region where the cattle are raised, Kobe is relatively rare: only 3,000 head of cattle are certified as Kobe grade each year. This has caused some confusion, but here's an easy way to remember it. Wagyu (which literally means "Japanese cow") refers to specific cattle breeds that come from a direct, traceable and pure lineage. The Kansai region, home to Osaka, produces three "royal" varieties of Wagyu: Matsusaka, Kobe and Omi. That said, beef from other areas can be just as delicious. Learn more about Japan's different types of beef here. ## Soba Soba, or Japanese buckwheat noodles, is typically served cold with a dipping sauce (called zaru soba) or hot in a dashi broth. The winner across the board, te-uchi, meaning "handmade," is soba the Japanese way. Kneaded and cut by hand, soba offers the best firmness and, as a result, is far tastier than the mass-produced variety. For a truly unique soba experience, head to Iwate, a prefecture in northeastern Japan, where you can enjoy a 400-year-old all-you-can-eat noodle tradition called "wanko soba." One wanko soba restaurant claims a guest ate 570 bowls in a single sitting. ## Yakitori ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-9-2024.jpg) A yakitori restaurant is where you can try every part of the chicken, from chicken breast to skin and gizzards, all served on skewers, Japanese style. Tokyo's Torikado is one of the best places to enjoy them. A high-end yakitori omakase restaurant, Torikado leaves it up to the chef to decide what diners eat. Another popular way to enjoy a few chicken skewers is with a beer at an izakaya, or casual Japanese pub. Here are our picks for the best (and affordable) izakaya in Tokyo. ## Kaiseki ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-10-2024.jpg) Travelers to Japan planning a trip to Kyoto will inevitably run into the word "kaiseki." To an outsider, it seems like just a multi-course Japanese dinner made up of beautifully arranged dishes. But there's far more to this meticulously prepared, exquisitely presented and usually very expensive meal. For practitioners of this haute cuisine, kaiseki is the embodiment of "omotenashi," which means wholehearted hospitality. Want to learn more? We followed chef Hisato Nakahigashi of Miyamasou, a two-Michelin-star restaurant and ryokan, to put together this beginner's guide to kaiseki dishes. ## Ramen ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-110-11-2024.jpg) There's nothing more comforting than devouring a bowl of ramen on a cold, rainy day. There are four main styles of this world-famous soup dish: shoyu (seasoned with soy sauce); shio (a lighter version of shoyu with soy sauce); miso (made with fermented soybeans); and tonkotsu (a creamy white broth from pork bones). We asked Brian MacDuckston, founder of the blog Ramen Adventures, to share some of his favorite ramen varieties in Tokyo and beyond, which include Hokkaido miso ramen, Kumamoto Kyushu ramen and all sorts of shoyu variations. Read more about them here. ## Sake Japanese rice wine, sake has a long history dating back to the third century. It's produced all over the country, and many brewers welcome tours, but the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan is where you'll find some of the finest bottles. Part of what makes Tohoku sake so exceptional is the geography: winters are harsh with heavy snowfall, and historically, because of its remoteness, agriculture was the mainstay in Tohoku. For visitors making the trip north, several breweries offer tours in English along with tastings, but you'll need to book ahead through their websites.